Alabama A&M shows spring progress, Shade sees Bulldogs ahead of last year

Alabama A&M’s spring game ended in a 28-28 tie at Louis Crews Stadium, but the most important number was the early one: a 20-0 Bulldogs lead built on a Keon Handley Jr. interception and a defensive three-and-out. For a team that finished 4-8 overall and 1-7 in SWAC play last fall, that kind of start gave Sam Shade a real snapshot of progress, not just spring noise.

Shade did not oversell it, but he made clear the scrimmage matched what he has been seeing all spring. “I think we are ahead of where we were last year,” he said. That is the kind of statement that matters in Year 2, especially for a program that spent much of 2025 near the bottom of the league standings and is still trying to turn roster turnover into stability. Shade arrived on Dec. 29, 2024 after guiding Miles College to an 18-15 mark over three seasons, and this spring was his first chance to show whether that rise can carry over to Huntsville.

The defense gave him the best early evidence. Alabama A&M was spotted 17 points before the offense found its rhythm, and the unit turned that opening stretch into immediate leverage with Handley’s interception and a stop that pushed the margin to 20-0. In a league where hidden yards and communication often decide games, that kind of start hints at cleaner assignments and better cohesion than the Bulldogs showed a year ago.

The offense answered with a few real signs of life. Mac Armstrong hit Jarel Williams for a touchdown, then Williams added another layer of value by making the offense look more explosive in space. Jordan Chambers-Smith was the other standout, catching scoring passes of 18 and 9 yards. Those are not empty spring highlights for a team that needs more dependable playmakers if it wants to climb out of the SWAC cellar and stop leaning so heavily on week-to-week improvisation.

The quarterback picture remains the biggest swing factor. Cornelious Brown IV was held out of live action, but he is expected to start this season after being granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA and moving into what HBCU Sports described as his eighth season of college football. Brown’s absence forced extra reps for the rest of the room, a useful byproduct in April even if he remains the centerpiece once summer camp opens. That kind of depth work matters more now than ever, because programs that get their quarterback room organized in spring usually spend August refining, not repairing.

That is what being ahead of schedule changes for Alabama A&M. It does not guarantee a SWAC surge, but it narrows the gap between hope and execution before the Bulldogs head toward a 2026 slate that includes Howard in Atlanta and only so many chances to bank wins. If Shade’s spring read is right, Alabama A&M is no longer just rebuilding. It is starting to look like a team that can compete before September pressure arrives.